Choosing a new smartphone can be overwhelming. The Honor Play 5T Pro and Huawei nova 5T both offer compelling features at competitive prices, but cater to slightly different needs. This comprehensive comparison will help you determine which device best suits your priorities.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Huawei nova 5T emerges as the clear winner thanks to its significantly more powerful Kirin 980 chipset and faster charging. While the Honor Play 5T Pro offers decent value, the nova 5T's performance and overall experience justify its slight price premium.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA2000 1x | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, August 05 | 2019, August 27. Released 2019, September 05 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, August 05 | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 160.7 x 73.3 x 8.4 mm (6.33 x 2.89 x 0.33 in) | 154.3 x 74 x 7.8 mm (6.07 x 2.91 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 179 g (6.31 oz) | 174 g (6.14 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~399 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~412 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.26 inches, 96.2 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x1.92 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6769V/CU Helio G80 (12 nm) | Kirin 980 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | Mali-G76 MP10 |
| OS | Android 11, Magic UI 4.0 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, EMUI 10 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 64 MP, f/1.9, 27mm (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
16 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1"
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | - | 32-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 22.5W wired | 22.5W wired, 50% in 24 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | Li-Po 3750 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Magic Black, Titanium Silver | Black, Crush Blue, Midsummer Purple, Crush Green |
| Models | - | YAL-L21, YAL-L61, YAL-L71, YAL-L61D |
| Price | About 200 EUR | About 340 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 313024 (v7), 395503 (v8)
GeekBench: 10013 (v4.4), 2504 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 29fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor Play 5T Pro
- Potentially larger display
- Likely longer battery life for basic use
- More affordable
- Less powerful chipset
- Slower charging
- Likely inferior camera quality
Huawei nova 5T
- Significantly faster performance
- Superior camera quality
- Fast charging (50% in 24 min)
- Vibrant OLED display
- Potentially shorter battery life (depending on usage)
- Slightly higher price
Display Comparison
The Honor Play 5T Pro likely features a larger display (estimated 6.67 inches) with a standard resolution, offering a more immersive viewing experience for media consumption. The Huawei nova 5T boasts a 6.4-inch OLED display with a Full HD+ resolution, providing vibrant colors, deeper blacks, and better contrast. The OLED advantage gives the nova 5T a noticeable edge in visual quality.
Camera Comparison
The Huawei nova 5T is expected to have a more capable camera system. While the Honor Play 5T Pro likely features a quad-camera setup, the nova 5T's Kirin 980 ISP (Image Signal Processor) and Huawei's image processing algorithms generally deliver better image quality, especially in low-light conditions. The nova 5T's camera is known for its excellent portrait mode and detail capture.
Performance
Here's where the Huawei nova 5T truly shines. Its Kirin 980 chipset, built on a 7nm process, is significantly more powerful than the Honor Play 5T Pro's Helio G80 (12nm). Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the nova 5T. The nova 5T's CPU architecture (Cortex-A76 cores) also contributes to its superior performance.
Battery Life
The Honor Play 5T Pro likely has a larger battery capacity (estimated 4500-5000mAh), potentially offering longer battery life for basic usage. However, the Huawei nova 5T's 22.5W fast charging allows it to reach 50% charge in just 24 minutes, significantly reducing charging times.
Buying Guide
The Honor Play 5T Pro is a good choice for budget-conscious users who prioritize a large display and long battery life for basic tasks. The Huawei nova 5T is ideal for users who demand smoother performance, a better camera, and faster charging for more demanding applications and gaming.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Honor Play 5T Pro good for gaming?
While it can handle some games, the Honor Play 5T Pro's chipset isn't ideal for demanding titles. The Huawei nova 5T offers a much smoother gaming experience.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Huawei's software support has been inconsistent due to trade restrictions. Honor, now independent, may offer more reliable updates. However, both phones may lack access to Google Mobile Services.
